The Judge deferred ruling on the Government's request for handwriting exemplars. The defense asked that the Government provide the documents it seeks to attribute to Loughner so it could stipulate to their admission, which would obviate the need for the exemplars. The Government argued, unpersuasively in my view, that it does not have to accept such a stipulation, and that even if stipulated to, it has the right to it has the right to present conduct the exemplars. The defense also objected to exemplars by dictation, where the examiner tells Loughner what to write, because that would render the exemplar testimonial, and violate his 5th Amendment privilege against self-incrimination. For example, if there was a handwritten document that misspelled the word "receipt" as "receit" and the examiner told Loughner to write the word, and Loughner similarly mispelled the word, it would be a communicatation of his thought processes. The Government, in a reply brief, said it won't use dictation. The Judge said he wasn't ready to rule on this yet.

The Government also asked for a psychiatric exam on Loughner, to be conducted at an unspecified federal medical facility, to determine his competency. The defense argued the motion was premature and could jeopardize its ability to communicate with him. The Judge set a hearing for May 25 on competency and said each side could have its own experts evaluate him. Without seeing the written order, I can't tell if he granted the Government's request to have Loughner moved. Usually, the exams take a few months, and if they can move Loughner to a medical facility within the Bureau of Prisons of their choosing, it seems to me that would severely impact his ability to meet with counsel, particularly during this early stage when his counsel are trying to establish a rapport with him and earn his trust.

Finally, an attorney for the family of Chief Judge John Roll filed a notice of entry of appearance in the case. He says he did so to protect their interests. Crime victims (and their family memebers) are not parties to a criminal case. They have rights under the Crime Victims Restitution Act to be heard. But I don't think they can just enter a general appearance. If there was a specific matter at issue, they could file a motion to intervene. But they can't make themselves parties to the case and enter their appearance. From a public relations standpoint, it might not make sense for the defense to move to strike the appearance, but I think it makes perfect legal sense.

In one recent case, the Third Circuit rejected a crime victim's attorney's entry of appearance. The Ninth Circuit, in United States v. Gamma Tech Indus., 265 F.3d 917, 923 n.6 (9th Cir.2001) said "Victims have never had standing to appear as parties in criminal cases."

Victims have never had standing to appear as parties in criminal cases. See Linda R.S. v. Richard D., 410 U.S. 614, 619, 35 L. Ed. 2d 536, 93 S. Ct. 1146 (1973) ("The Court's prior decisions consistently hold that a citizen lacks standing to contest the policies of the prosecuting authority when he himself is neither prosecuted nor threatened with prosecution.").

Specificically, a crime victim has the following rights under the CVRA (18 U.S.C. § 3771(a).)

(1) The right to be reasonably protected from the accused.

(2) The right to reasonable, accurate, and timely notice of any public court proceeding, or any parole proceeding, involving the crime or of any release or escape of the accused.

(3) The right not to be excluded from any such public court proceeding, unless the court, after receiving clear and convincing evidence, determines that testimony by the victim would be materially altered if the victim heard other testimony at that proceeding.

(4) The right to be reasonably heard at any public proceeding in the district court involving release, plea, sentencing, or any parole proceeding.

(5) The reasonable right to confer with the attorney for the Government in the case.

(6) The right to full and timely restitution as provided in law.

(7) The right to proceedings free from unreasonable delay.

(8) The right to be treated with fairness and with respect for the victim's dignity and privacy.

As to enforcement:

Enforcement under the CVRA is provided through a motion for relief in the district court, which must decide "any motion asserting a victim's right forthwith." If the relief sought is denied, the movant may petition the court of appeals for a writ of mandamus, which must decide the petition not only "forthwith," but within 72 hours after it has been filed. § 3771(d)(3).

The attorney for the Roll family has not filed any motions, just a Notice of Entry. He does not provide any authority for his entry, only states that it is pursuant to the rules of federal criminal procedure. Which one?

I could see if it was sentencing time, and the Roll family wanted to be heard and the Government refused to allow them an opportunity to speak, that they might retain counsel to move to intervene for the purpose of being heard at sentencing. Then it would be up to the judge. But to just file an entry in the case as if they are a party? I don't see that as permissible.